Best way to get a backpack on this bike?

[project_c]

Hello, first post here, looking for a bit of advice about getting my backpack onto my bike. It's a standard Herschel ruck sack, nothing fancy, but wearing it whilst riding makes my back sweat like a monster. Was told a standard rack is not ideal for this, as bag will have to be strapped down loads and won't be secure. (Is this true?)

Looking for advice / suggestions, any help would be most welcome! thanks!

Need the following:
1. not too ugly
2. not too heavy
3. doesn't use more than about 1inch of seat post (I'm short, so my seat is about as low as it can go - see attached pic)
4. secure (so my bag doesn't fall into Regent's Canal during my ride to work).

Here's a pic of my bike with it's very low seat:

 

[Profpointy]

one word:

"panniers"

 

[jay clock]

to strap a rucksack you will need a rack first. Then there is the issue of how to avoid all the straps getting tangled in the wheels. so one word:

"panniers"

 

[Sara_H]

I swopped from backpack to panniers years ago and have never looked back.

I generally use a a double pannier that stays in place permanently and which I consider to be the equivalent of a car boot, so just chuck whatever bag I'm carrying that day. Having said that, I've also got a few different bags that have hidden panniers and are designed to be taken with you at the end of your journey.

 

[project_c]

Thanks for your input - however i am not really after panniers, i would really like a solution that doesn't involve those, it's just loads more stuff that I can't fit into my already cramped London flat. I would really just like a way to carry my existing rucksack on my bike with as little fuss as possible. I'm guessing because of the low seat the only way is a traditional rack and a strap?

 

[Gez73]

I use a rack and rack bag, panniers too for the 'laundry' commutes, the rack bag stays on permanently There will in my opinion be an inherent problem with trying to attach any rucksack to a rack or seatpost. You would be better off getting a rack and dedicated bag to securely sit on it and remove as you need to, or panniers if your frame allows. This might sound like a stupid question: but why do you want to put your rucksack anywhere but on your back?

 

[vickster]

Basket on the front?

Better still move somewhere bigger and get a rack and panniers
...or don't, flog the rucksack, attach the rack and panniers to the bike, no more space taken, indeed space freed as you no longer have a rucksack in the flat

 

[bianchi1]

you could always try something like this:

https://www.alpkit.com/bike-luggage

 

[project_c]

I use a rack and rack bag, panniers too for the 'laundry' commutes, the rack bag stays on permanently There will in my opinion be an inherent problem with trying to attach any rucksack to a rack or seatpost. You would be better off getting a rack and dedicated bag to securely sit on it and remove as you need to, or panniers if your frame allows. This might sound like a stupid question: but why do you want to put your rucksack anywhere but on your back?

Thanks for the suggestions Why do you think there's an inherent issue with this? Others have said the same, so you're probably right but I'm not sure what's wrong with it. The reason for taking it off my back on long journeys (one hour ride either way to work) is that I get covered in back sweat, so i'll have to either get changed when I get there, or look like i've just been pulled out of a lake.

Will also check out the alpkit stuff now! ta

 

[summerdays]

I've got an Alpkit bag the Airlock Extra, I will use it if I have to but I don't like it and wipeouts prefer a pannier any day! Nothing against Alpkit products, I've got several things from them, just find that it doesn't feel as secure and it moves around, whereas I know my pannier isn't going to shift and will protect the belongings more.

 

[Profpointy]

Thanks for the suggestions Why do you think there's an inherent issue with this? Others have said the same, so you're probably right but I'm not sure what's wrong with it. The reason for taking it off my back on long journeys (one hour ride either way to work) is that I get covered in back sweat, so i'll have to either get changed when I get there, or look like i've just been pulled out of a lake.

Will also check out the alpkit stuff now! ta

There's nothing wrong per se with using bungie or whatever to attach luggage to the rack, however anything with danlgy straps eg rucksack risks getting caught in the works, resulting in at best a general nuisance as you stop to sort it out, and with a significant risk of falling off.

Once you've got a rack, which you were considering anyway, you might as well get some proper panniers and job's a good un. One pannier can be "stored" on the bike ready filled with puncture kit, tools, what-have-you, so doesn't really take up flat space. The other one can be stuck on-top of the wardrobe or similar until such time as you need both. If budget can stretch to Ortliebs then they are just so easy to clip on and off and are a joy to use. And you don't have to empty out your rucksack of spanners / inner-tubes etc when you are on foot and need a rucksack.

 

[roteiro]

I guess, a regular backpack will be the best option for you anyway... I use Caribee Aquatec and I don't get very sweaty with it. But it is the most convenient variant IMO.